Mind the Gap

Chapter 9

I’m not sure how long I stood staring at couple who were currently being greeted as if they were the King and Queen of England, but it was hard to take my eyes off them. One, because I was trying to rationalize the fact that the man just introduced as a Marquess was the same guy that I met at Kensington Gardens and had practically dry humped me against my entryway wall. Two had to do with the statuesque blonde that was attached to his arm. Looking at her in the skintight red gown she had on, with a slit much higher than mine, made me feel like I was a five year old girl parading around in her mother’s clothes.

And if feeling frumpy compared to the blonde goddess wasn’t bad enough, it was the doubt that maybe I shouldn’t trust myself and my judgement about people that caused my chest to tighten. By the looks of Marcus with this Lady Sussex, the way she had her arm possessively wrapped around his and the smile on his face as he looked down at her as she spoke to another couple in front of them, made me think I’d been once again fooled by a man. Worse, this time I was the other woman.

“Two, what’s wrong? You’ve gone pale?” Anthony placed a hand on my arm, pulling my attention away from that lying bastard and his perfect woman.

“Jon’s right. I can’t be trusted.”

“What’s this?”

Having my inability to judge good character thrown in my face was enough to make me sick, literally and figuratively, but having it thrown in my face in front of the very men who already questioned me is even worse.

“Lia? What the f**k?” Jon put his arm around me and pulled me into him, whispering into the side of my head. “Why do you look like your about to chuck the contents of your stomach?”

“Because you were right.” I somehow manage to say past the large lump in my throat. “I…I can’t believe I fell for it. I was so f*****g pissed at him, but I fell right back into the same trap because he was a walking orgasm.”

“What are you talking about?” Jon asked. I saw him look at Anthony too, but I was hoping I could just ignore the fact that I was having a meltdown in the middle of my best friend’s party, with her brothers as my sole support, while the first man to spark any interest from me since Jeremy turned out to be the same kind of lying bastard he was. Talk about a shining moment.

Shaking loose of Jon, I angrily march towards the bar we just left. Alcohol was going to be needed in order to deal with this. Especially since I hadn’t seen Sophie yet. It wasn’t like I could just up and leave, even if I wished I could.

“Yes, ma’am?”

I smiled sweetly at the nice bartender, since he and I were about to become very well acquainted. “Yes, you see that tall gentleman behind me?” I looked over my shoulder to where Anthony and Jon were currently standing, being waylaid by an older man who I guessed was someone known to their family. But they saw me and the confused, concerned and a bit angry look on both of their faces let me know they weren’t going to let me get away.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I was wondering, do you happen to have the bottle of Scotch that Mr. Kingsley is drinking at this bar?”

“No, ma’am. That particular bottle is housed at the main bar at the front of the room. Over there.” The very nice bartender pointed me towards the bar where I last saw my brother and sister in law go. And that was where I was going to go, because there was no way I was going to get through the rest of this night without that bottle of Scotch.

“Thank you. I truly appreciate it.”

Quickly walking away from the bar, I make my way to the other one and then sweetly con that bartender into pouring me a generous amount. After slamming that back, choking on it’s strong taste and then the burn of it going down my throat and into my stomach, I kindly asked for another as I lean against the bar and let the Scotch do its job. As it does, my mind starts running through every encounter with Marcus. I never asked if he was with someone, yet I assumed he wasn’t if he was flirting with me and practically screwing me against a wall. I guess that old adage about assuming just came up and bit me in the ass.

Taking another sip, I turn around to look at the crowd. If I can find Sophie, maybe I can make some excuse and get out of this mess. But with my luck and the number of people at this massive ball, I know I’ll never be able to find her. I don’t even know what she’s wearing, which makes it even more difficult. What I can see is a flash of red, which my slightly addled brain quickly assumes belongs to Lady Sussex.

“Another, please,” I say to the bartender as I slam the tumbler down on the bar. I can feel the ridicule in his stare, but I could give two shits what he thinks of the bawdy, slightly drunk American demanding more alcohol from a bottle that probably costs more than what I have in my savings account.

“Oh, shite. She’s gotten into my Scotch.”

Anthony and Jon surround me. I try to stand taller to get eye level with them, but my vision has turned a bit blurry and these heels make it impossible to stand without swaying.

“That’s right, Tony. I’m drinking your Scotch.” I wave the glass in front of them for effect and then take a long sip. “It’s a f*****g good Scotch too.” I say with a giggle.

“Christ, she’s already smashed.” Jon says as he takes the glass out of my hand.

“I’m not smashed, Jonny. I just don’t give a fuck.”

“See if you can ring her brother on his mobile. I saw him earlier talking to Countess Ludlow.” Finished giving instructions to his brother, Jon turned back to me. “Lia, no more for you.” He drinks the remaining contents of my glass.

“Jon,” I whimper, no longer feeling giddy. “That was mine. Now what do I do to numb everything?” I could feel that irritating lump form in the back of my throat again and I know tears are going to fall at any moment. If I was sober, I’d be yelling at myself for doing this. But my emotions are all over the place, mostly because of the alcohol, but partly because I didn’t want to be wrong about Marcus.

“Bloody hell, not the tears. You are not going to start that.” Jon pulls a handkerchief from his pants pocket, grabs my chin and starts dabbing under my eyes. “I’m not sure what the f**k is up with you, but you are not going to do this. Sophia will…”

“Making the girls cry already, Kinglsey? I thought you learned your lesson in primary?”

Jon’s shoulders slump and his head falls forward, mumbling something I can’t quite make out, but I’m sure it isn’t nice.

Whoever owned the voice wasn’t happy just making her snide comment to Jon, she made sure to move around him so she could look at me too.

“Oh come now. I know Jonathan can be a bore, but there’s no need to cry. Plenty of other men here to waste away the hours he’s already booked.”

It took a minute for her comment to click, but when it did…

“Did she just say what I think she said?” I asked Jon. He closed his eyes and his head fell further. So I moved to the side to look at the woman I’m pretty sure just insinuated I was a w***e. And I was not about to let that little insult slide. What I didn’t expect was for the person who did the insulting to be the one that I was a tad bit envious of tonight.

Standing, smugly, behind Jon was the lady in red. Lady Sussex. She was more beautiful up close, but with alcohol flowing through me, the only thing I wanted to do was show this smug b***h a thing or two.

“Do you just call me a w***e?” Ok…it wasn’t the smartest thing to say, but there was no arguing with myself.

“Oh, how precious,” Little Red b***h said smiling at me and turning her gaze to Jon. “Does she really believe she’ll get anything from you?”

“Shut the f**k up, Elizabeth.”

“Oh come now, Jon. You had to troll for an American in order to find yourself a woman? How embarrassing for your family.”

“Excuse me,” I yelled louder than I probably needed to. “…Lady Sussex. You insult me one more time and I’ll show you just how American I am.” I pushed right up in front of her and stood nose to nose with her. This fancy b***h was not about to one up me. Jon tugged at my arm, trying to remove me, but I wasn’t about to move.

“Lizzie. What the f**k? Fighting already?”

I knew that voice. Unfortunately, so did my body. A combination of the alcohol and my riotous emotions made it hard for me to fight against the Dark Lord’s powers. I wasn’t sure if I should hit him or push him against one of the massive columns in the hall to continue what we were doing yesterday. I didn’t get a chance to figure out which one I wanted to do, as Jon yanked my arm to get me away. Unfortunately, it was the arm in the cast and the way he pulled me caused my arm to twist and for pain to cover my arm from wrist to elbow.

“Ow! Jesus, Jon. That hurts.” I pulled my arm back and cradled it against my stomach.

“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t about to let your mouth get you in anymore troub…”

“Kingsley. A moment please.”

Jon muttered something under his breath before he stopped. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. Part of me wanted to get an up close glimpse at the Dark Lord in all his hotness, but the emotionally hurt part wants to get as far away from him as we can so we can lick our wounds.

“I’m sorry for the scene,” Marcus said as soon as he was close enough to Jon. “And I apologize to your date as well.”

“Keep her on her leash, Duoro. She’s going to say something to the wrong person one day.”

“Miss, I hope you’ll excuse my guest and the way she addressed you.”

I closed my eyes, letting the tenor of his voice wash over me. It was becoming evident there were many things I didn’t like about the Dark Lord, but heaven help me his voice could make me come all on it’s own. But fueled by alcohol, I decided it was time to tell this asshole I was done. Shaking Jon loose, I turned around hoping I was prepared to seeing Marcus up close.

“Don’t worry about it Marcus. Us whores have a thick skin.” 

I don’t know if it was my comment or just the fact that I was here. Regardless, it had the impact that I wanted. That lovely tan glow Marcus’ skin normally had lost some of it’s color. That gave me a small hint of satisfaction, but at this point I was done with everything. 

“Come on, Jon,” I said as I linked my arm with him. “I’m done being insulted tonight.”

“Amelia, wait,” Marcus said as he tried to head us off. “Wait.”

“No, Marcus. I don’t know what game you were playing with me, but I’m ending it here. I didn’t move across the pond to get tangled up into the same f*****g situation again. Now move.”

Unwinding myself from Jon, I walked back through the crowd hoping to God it will swallow me up so I can get out of this place.